Extensible ice skate



Sept. 15, 1959 Filed March 7, 1957 c. E. JONES ETAL EXTENSIBLE ICE SKATE 2 Sheets+$heet 1 Sept. 15, 1959 c. E. JcNEs E'TAL EXTENSIBLE ICE SKATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1957 EXTENSIBLE ICE SKATE Charles E. Jones, Chicago, and William G. Crowle, Berwyn, 111.

Application March 7, 1957, SerialNo". 644,635 6' Claims. (Cl. 280-11.)

The invention relates. to improvements in' ice skates and is more particularly concerned with the novel construction and assembly of an ice skate adaptedfor easy ize adjustment, and a dual runner therefor.

The skate embodying'the features of the present invention is fabricated for the most part from tough nylon plastic or. other suitable wear-resisting moldable material. The skate is comprised of but a minimum of parts all of which may be easily and quickly assembled in such manner that the skate maybe adjusted readily through a range of sizes within the physical. limitationlof its construction.

More particularly, the skate" includes a heel plate and a toe plate each of which preferably is molded and is reinforced to withstand considerable abuse to. which'such parts are. ordinarily subjected. Each such foot plate has, also molded or otherwise formed integral therewith, a hollow boss depending from its bottom face; The two foot plates are substantially like those shown and de scribed in our co-pending application Serial Number 600,.- 218, filed July 26, 1956, now Patent No. 2,841,405, issued July 1, 1958 and they are joined for sizeadjustment toward and away from each other by a one-piece bridging rtuiner element which includes channel-shaped end portions that areslidably guided in channels'formed on the bottom faces of the foot plates. The runner ele' ment is fabricated preferably from a single'piece of sheet metal stock and it includes a pair of laterally spaced runners joined alongtheir upper longitudinal edges by a con necting bridge portion that'includes the'aforesaidchannel shaped end portions. The runners are disposed one on each side of the bosses ofthe heel and toe plates and bo'tli'runnersare secured firmly to one of said bossesand secured slidably to the other of" said bosses; Thefoot plate having the boss to which therunners'are secured firmly also has means in its top wall to engage'the related channel-shaped end portion for additionally'securing the'runner element to the said plate, whereas the other end of the runner element isslidably. connected to" the top wall of the said other foot plate.

lt'is therefore an object'of the presentinventiontoipro vide an ice'skate of the character referred'to.

Another object is to" provide. a" novelly constructed runner element.-

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for adjustably mounting a foot plate on arunner element.

Another object is to'provide: toeandheel plates with novel means for mounting a runner-element thereon and for reinforcing the runners thereof against'lateral flexing.

With the foregoing and such other objects in View, whichwill appear as the description proceeds, the 'inven tion' consistszof certainsnovel features'of'construction, arrangernent and combination I of parts:'hereinafteri fully de= scribed;.illustrated in the accompanying drawings-,uand particularly pointed out-in the appended claims; it being understood that various changes in 'fonn', proportion; size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to identify correspondingpart's's" Fig. 1 is a plan view of an ice skate embodying the; features of the invention.-

Fig. 2 isa' bottom planview of the ice'skatei Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view; substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4- is a longitudinal verticalcentral sectional View of the skate.

Fig. 5' isa vertical transverse detail sectiontl View; taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig; 41 i Fig; dis a perspective vlewof the novel" runner 'e'le' m'ent. Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the two parts of"tlie"n' vet assembly used for mounting the runner element.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the skate i1 lustrated comprises a'heel plate 5' and a toe plate 6 a'r-f ranged end to end and connectedfor adjustment, as to skate size, by a bridging runner element 7 that is chairnel-shaped'in'transverse section. Each of the foot plates 5 and 6 is fabricated from suitable moldable material such as nylon plastic so as to be very durable and wear-' resisting while maintaining a sufiicient amount of resili ency to resistbreakage, chipping, etc.

As illustrated, the heel plate 5 is fabricated'in'one'piece and it includes a top wall 8 havingan upstanding' arcuate heel stop 9 formed of two material thicknesses-9bz -9H with a space 11 therebetween which opens intoa' slot 12; on' each end; The outer or rearmost wall9b depends b'ei' low the top Wall 8' and it merges at its ends, below the slots 12; inside flanges 13 that dependfrom the Wall s. Also" formed integral with the bottom face of the ra Wall 8 are a' pair of' laterally spacedparallel flanges:- I4 defining an inverted longitudinal -channel or recess between them that opens onto the forward edge of the lieel'pla'te 5. A mounting b'osslS is formed'integral withdhe heel plate Sand, as shown, this'b'oss also dependsfromwhe bottom face of the top wall 8 and has parallel side walls 16' anddownwardly convergin'g'f'ront and back walls 17 and 18 respectively. I

As best illustrated in Fig. 5, the side walls 16" of the mountingbosslS are'integralwith the spacedflan'gesl l'i and'th'e front and'back walls 17' and'lfi' terminate sub sta'ntially in the plane of'the bottom edges of the flanges 14'so as to leave, between the upper edgesofsaidwalls 17 and lhan'd'th'e bottom face of the top Wall's; aligned openings 21 (Fig; 4) in register with the inverted lo'ngi tudinal channel between the flanges 141 It should'ib'e' notedupon reference to Fig. 5, that the side walls16 of the boss are spaced inwardly slightly from each re lated flange 14 soas to provide a pair of internal upwardly facing shoulders 22' for a purpose to be madea'pjparent presently. The mountingboss 15' provides a-rein= forced mounting'for the runner element 7 (Fig. 6)- de scribed hereinafter. In order to permit" the entire heel plate-S'to be molded or ca'stinone piece, themounting bos's 15'is made hollow as shown with its core opening in direct communication with the top surface'of the'top wall 8.

The toe' plate 6' also is fabricate'd'ofthesarne kind-of material and in a manner similar to the heel" plate The toe plate 6 includes a top Wall-24 having a surrounding downwardly extending flangeZS' and, as best shown in Fig. 3, a pair of longitudinally extending spac'edparallelflanges 26'on its bottom face. The flanges 26a'lso' define an inverted longitudinal channel or recess-between themthat opensonto the rearwardly disposed edge ofthe toe-plate.- Thetoe plate 6 also'carries an integral rn'ount ingib'oss 28 that 'is similar to the boss 15 011th'e heelplate 5 and it includes sidewalls 29* and converging f'ront and taken? back walls 31-32. In this instance, however, the front wall 31 (Fig. 4) extends to and is integral with the top wall 24 thus affording a three wall connection between said boss and said top wall. The side walls 29 are, like in boss 15, offset inwardly from the connected flanges 26 so as to define a pair of upwardly facing internal shoulders 33 for a purpose to be explained presently. The mounting boss 28 provides means for mounting the runner element 23 in the toe plate 6.

As noted hereinabove the heel plate and the toe plate are arranged end to end and are connected together for longitudinal adjustment toward and away from each other on the runner element 7 which bridges the gap between said plates. The runner element 7 is fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal stock and, as best illustrated in Fig. 6, it comprises an elongated U-shaped formation including a central connecting bridge portion 34 and depending laterally spaced runners 35. Each runner is formed with a pair of offsets, best indicated in Fig. 3 at 36 and 37, so as to provide the runner member with a relatively narrow upper margin 38, a slightly wider intermediate runner portion 39 and a pair of outwardly angularly flared bottom margins 41 which afford a relatively wide running surface.

The intermediate portion 39 of each runner is formed with a pair of end slots 4243 so as to provide inverted channel-shaped end portions 44 and 45 on the upper runner portion 38. These channel-shaped end portions 4445 are of a width and depth to slide snugly into the spaces between the bottom surface of the top walls 8 and 24 respectively, and the related shoulders 22 and 33. The runner bridging portion 34 is provided ad acent its channel-shaped end portion 45 with a hole 46 which is positioned in registering alignment with a corresponding hole formed in the bottom of a recess 47 in the top wall of the toe plate 6. The recess 47 is adapted to receive therein the flat head 48 of a bolt 49. the threaded shank of which extends through the registering holes and receives thereon a suitable nut 51 for securing the runner element firmly to the toe plate 6.

Additional securing means is afiorded the toe plate 6 by providing the boss 28 thereon with a lateral aperture to receive a rivet assembly 52 therethrough. This rivet assembly proiects through registering openings 53 (Fig. 6) one provided in each of the intermediate portions 39. One part 54 of the rivet assembly (Fig. 7) is formed at one end with a head 55 and at its other end with an axial recess 56. The axial recess 56 is adapted to drivingly receive therein the shank of a drive screw 57 constituting the other part of the rivet assemblv. after the part 54 had been mounted in place, thus affording a firm and permanent mounting for securing the intermediate runner portions 39 to the boss 28.

The other or rear end portion of the runner element 7 is provided with an end opening slot 58 in its bridge portion 34 and an intermediate centrally located slot 59. The open end slot 58 is adapted to receive therein the web 61 (Fig. bridging the opening 21 formed in the back wall 18 of the boss 15, when the heel plate 5 is in its most forward position on the runner element 7. The heel plate 5 also is provided with a recess 63 in its top surface to receive the fiat head 64 of a bolt having its threaded shank 65 depending through an opening in the recess floor and through the slot 59 in the runner element 7. A nut 66 threaded onto the depending end of the shank 65 may be tightened and loosened manually to permit adjustment and securement of the heel plate in any position along the runner element 7 within the limits of slot 59.

The lower extremity of the boss is formed like the lower extremity of the boss 28. It likewise is provided with a laterally extending rivet assembly 67 which extends through slots 68 in the runner element. It corresponds to the assembly 52 illustrated in detail in Fig. 7, with the exception that the body of the rivet assembly is of such length that when its related drive screw is in place,

the heads thereof are spaced slightly from the runner portions 39 so as to permit sliding movement between the runner element and the boss 15.

The skate is adapted to be held removably on the shoe of the wearer by means of an ankle strap 69 and a toe strap 71. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be observed that the ankle strap 69 is threaded through the slots 12 in the ends of the double walled heel stop 9. The toe strap 71 is formed to be engaged detachably with the toe plate 6 in front of the mounting boss 28 thereon.

As many possible embodiments may be made in the invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A skate comprising a heel plate and a toe plate, said plates each including a top wall and being arranged end to end and spaced apart, laterally spaced longitudinal flanges integral with and depending from the top wall of each plate, the flanges on each plate defining an inverted channel, a boss depending from each of said top walls integral with the respective flanges and bridging the channels defined thereby, a runner element bridging the space between the heel and toe plates having end portions seated in said channels, means connecting said end portions to said heel and toe plates, said end portions extending into the channel spaced above said bosses so as to support and reinforce said bosses, a pair of runners on said runner element one on each side of said bosses, means securing said runners to one of said bosses and means slidably connecting the runners to the other of said bosses.

2. A skate comprising a heel plate and a toe plate arranged end to end and being spaced apart, laterally spaced longitudinal flanges integral with and depending from the bottom face of each plate, the flanges on each plate defining an inverted channel, a hollow boss on the bottom face of each plate integral with the respective flanges and bridging the channels defined thereby, an elongated runner element bridging the space between the heel and toe plates having its ends seated in said channels, means connecting said ends to said heel and toe plates, said ends projecting into said bosses so as to support and reinforce said bosses, means securing said runner element firmly to one of said bosses, and means slidably connecting the runner element to the other of said bosses.

3. An ice skate comprising a pair of spaced runners integrally joined at their upper edges by a bridge portion, said runners having longitudinal slots spaced from the bridge portion and extending inwardly from each end to define channel-shaped front and back bridge portions one at each end of the pair of runners, a toe plate telescoped onto the front bridge portion, a heel plate telescoped onto the back bridge portion, means securing the toe plate firmly to the runner, means securing the heel plate to said runner for adjustment toward and away from the toe plate and means on said plates extending into the space between the runners and secured thereto so as to prevent spreading of said runners.

4. A skate comprising a heel plate and a toe plate arranged end to end and being spaced apart, an inverted longitudinal channel on the bottom face of each plate opening onto the opposed ends of said plates, bosses one integral with and depending from the bottom face of each plate, said bosses each having an opening therein in register with the respective channel, an elongated runner element bridging the space between the heel and toe plates and having its ends seated in said channels, means connecting said ends to the said heel and toe plates respectively, said ends projecting into the openings in the bosses so as to support and reinforce said bosses, means securing said runner element firmly to one of said bosses, and means slidably connecting the runner element to the other of said bosses.

5. In an ice skate of the character described, separate heel and toe plates each having a boss depending therefrom, a double runner element comprising two substantially parallel runners joined at their upper extremities by a bridge portion, said runners having slots opening onto their ends to define with the bridge portion channel shape portions on each end of said runner element, said bridge portion underlying the heel and toe plates, the bosses each being formed to receive said respective end portions therein with the end portions of the runners embracing the related bosses, means securing the runner element firmly to one of said bosses and to the related plate, and means slidably connecting the runner element to the other boss and its related plate.

6. An ice skate comprising a pair of spaced runners joined at their upper edges by a bridge portion, said runners having longitudinal slots one extending inwardly from each end of each runner and spaced from the bridge portion to define front and back bridge end portions, a toe plate telescoped onto the front bridge end portion, a heel plate telescoped into the back bridge end portion, means securing one of said plates firmly to the related bridge end portion, and means securing the other plate to its related bridge end portion for adjustment toward and away from the other plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 672,376 Judd Apr. 16, 1901 1,597,213 Staples Aug. 24 ,1926 1,989,344 Tracey Jan. 29, 1935 1,996,925 Kaub' Apr. 9, 1935 2,190,316 Harris Feb. 13, 1940 2,706,119 Uphotf Apr. 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 455,119 Canada Mar. 15, 1949 

